The Book of Protection

Paritta

Discourse 8 - The Peacock's Prayer For Protection

Mora Paritta

1. There rises the golden hued one, the one who has sight, the one who is sole monarch, the one who illuminates the earth (it is the sun that is being addressed). I adore thee, the golden hued one who illuminates the earth (it is the sun that is being addressed). I adore thee, the golden hued one who illuminates the earth. Protected by thee we live this day safe and secure.

2. May my adoration be to those Brahmanas[2] (the Buddhas) who have attained Enlightenment by comprehending all dhammas. May they protect me. May my adoration be to the Buddhas (of the past), to their Enlightenment (the Four Paths and the Four Fruits). May my adoration be to those supremely secured from bondage (the Buddhas) and to their Deliverance. Having made this protection, the peacock goes about seeking (food).

3. There descends the golden hued one, the one who has sight, the one who is sole monarch, the one who illuminates the earth. I adore thee, the golden hued one who illuminates the earth. Protected by thee we live this night safe and secure.

4. May my adoration be to those Brahmanas (the Buddhas) who have attained Enlightenment by comprehending all dhammas. May they protect me. May my adoration be to the Buddhas (of the past), to their Enlightenment. May my adoration be to those supremely secured from bondage (the Buddhas) and to their Deliverance. Having made this protection the peacock spent his life happily.

- Footnotes:

The word "Brahmana" is used in the literal sense of one who has unloaded the burden of evil (bahita papoti brahmano), i.e., the Buddha, or an arahant, the Consummate One. The word Brahmana in the Brahmana Vagga (last chapter of the Dhammapada, refers to the arahant.